Bury played with the wind and the slope in the first half, and such was the advantage particularly in the set scrum, the home side did not enter the Bury half for the first 20 minutes.

Bury opened their account after 22 minutes from a line out, catch and drive, and skipper Jonny Allen pulled off to score unconverted. In the 30th minute Colne made their first concerted effort to cross the Bury line, their only reward was a penalty but the kick hit the upright and failed to score.

Bury rounded off the half in the 35th minute when a tap penalty by Allen released lock forward James Swinburn, who crossed the line for a converted try.

In what can only be called nine minutes of madness after the restart, Bury were to concede three tries, one of which was converted. The first one came from a five metre scrum, where a mix-up allowed Colne to drop on the ball for a converted try.

They repeated this effort with another five metre scrum, and a simple pick-up by the scrum half, who grounded in the corner. The last of the tries by Colne came from the restart when the home side’s full-back gathered, a long weighted kick downfield. He chased it himself to touch down in the corner having out stripped the opposition.

The Bury scrum, having been dominant in the first half, were struggling with the conditions underfoot. The slope on the pitch meant that when the scrum started to move, even locking out meant that at best they were getting slow ball.

The visitors did raise the game in the last 10 minutes and pressurised the line but the home defence held firm. Sam Ware came closest to a score but the ball was cleared and the whistle blew.

This Saturday, Bury entertain Kendal at the Radcliffe Road ground, KO 2.15pm.